Portable hole digger



March 30, 1954 e. H. LOOCK PORTABLE HOLE BIGGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 26, 1950 INVENTOR (72-2441 H. 100cm ATTORNEY March 30, 1954 G. H.LOOCK PORTABLE HOLE BIGGER 3 Shams-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1950 QN Q LN IINVENTOR GEEAAD 400014.

ATTORNEY March 30, 1954 e. H. LOOCK PORTABLE HOLE BIGGER 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed July 26, 1950 w 7 m m. 4 .ml 8 v. v w a x 7 a m a a w k 8 3 w ma 4 w a a W a a 5i A 5 h l IIHH1JIIHHIIU. 3 1 my e a 5 w a w x4 L; w. m=1. FE 6 L 4 E 4 5 H 2 n a e I M V x g X INVENTOR 622,440 A. aoczATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLEHOLE DIGGER Gerald H. Loock, Blythe, Calif.

Application July 26, 1950, Serial No. 175,997

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a portable hole digger and has for an objectto provide an improved portable hole digger which utilizes acomparatively simple gearing whereby it can be manufactured and sold ata reasonable cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable hole diggerwhich is comparatively small and capable of being transported by anysmall truck or jeep, yet is capable of doing the same work as largermachines but at a considerably lower cost per hole, yet with just asgreat rapidity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable hole diggerwhich may be powered by a conventional automobile engine andtransmission whereby the digging orbit may be reversed if necessary sothat it may be turned backward to screw itself out of the hole should itbecome stuck therein.

While there are many existing disclosures of portable hole diggers, suchas in Patents Nos. 1,397,324, 1,643,549, 2,901,502, 2,255,241,2,348,024, 2,410,959, this invention is an improvement thereover insimplicity of details of construction and operation, and providing aportable hole digger capable of performing allthe functions of thelarger machine at a lesser initial and lesser upkee cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable hole diggerwhich is more compact than previous machines for the same purpose.

A further object of this invention is to provide a small, compact holedigger which may be transported into out-of-the-way locations and whichmay dig the desired hole either absolutely vertically or at a desiredangle irrespective of whether the ground surface is level or somewhatangular or hilly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter becomeapparent, this inven'- tion provides the constructions, combinationsandarrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, claimed and disclosed in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side plan view of the portable digger of this invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is a r'ear'end view o fFig. 2 on a larger scale. 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the power connection to thedigging shaft.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the digging'shaft and power hub.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the top of thedigging shaftand housing.

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Fig. 7 is a view at right angles to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a rear-end view of Fig. 1 showing the angular adjustability.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a housing structure showing meansmounted thereon for angularly adjusting the digging shaft.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational detail illustrating one of thejournal pins and the bearing means therefor.

There is shown at [0 a trailer truck frame or vehicle frame on whichthis invention is mounted. This frame ll] includes a pair of chassismembers H and I2 mounted for transportation on rear wheels l3 and acaster front wheel l4 secured to a trailer hitch I5. The front wheel I4and trailer hitch l5 would be omitted if the chassis members H and I2were part of a small truck. Supported on the bed It of the trailer ortruck frame In is an automobile engine provided with the conventionalthree-speed forward and one-speed reversed gear transmission It, withits usual controls (not shown) and gear shift lever 20.

Extending from the transmission [8 is the main drive shaft 2| whosespeed and power are provided from the motor through the transmission l8.The shaft 2| is journaled through a ball bearing 22 mounted on across-frame member 23 of the vehicle body. A sprocket gear 24 on theshaft 2| drives a roller chain 25 which in turn drives a sprocket gear26 on a stub shaft 2'! which extends through pillow block bearings 28mounted on a crossbar 30 supported on uprights 32 between thecross-frame member 23 and a second cross-frame, 3|, the roller chain '25extending at approximately 45 degrees.

Secured to the rear end of the shaft 2; is a universal joint 33 whichconnects to a squared shaft 34 which telescopes into a squared sleeve 35which in turn isprovided with a universal joint 36 connecting it to astub shaft 3'1. The stub shaft'31 extends through a grease seal 38 in agear housing 4!], a pinion gear 4| being secured on the end of shaft 31in mesh with a ring gear 42, the ring gear 42 being fixed on one end ofa shaft 43 which extends across the frame and at its other end isjournaled in a bearing 44 mounted on an upright 45 whose lower end issecured on a collar 46.

Floating on the shaft 43 is a short housing section 41 keyed as at, 48for rotation therewith and provided at its ends with cone clutch faces51! and 5| arranged to slide into engagement with the clutch socket 52or 53. The clutch socket 52 is jou'rnale'dfreely on the shaft 43 and isprovided with a" sprocket 54 connected by a 3. sprocket chain 55 to asprocket 56 on one end of a short shaft 51 journaled in bearings 58 on apillow block 66 supported on a housing 6|, the upright 45 and its collar46 being likewise supported about housing 9|. The other end of the shortshaft 51 has a gear 62 affixed thereto, which gear 62 meshes with alarge gear 63 secured to clutch socket 53. Pivoted in a socket 64 on thepillow block 60 is a clutch lever 65 which cooperates with the shorthousing section 41 for sliding it back and forth and thus engagingeither the clutch cone face 56 with the clutch socket 52 or the clutchcone face 5I with the clutch socket 513. Thus manipulation of the clutchlever 65 in one direction or the other will cause gear 63 to rotatedirectly with and in the same direction as shaft 43 when clutch socket53 is engaged by clutch cone face 5| and to rotate in the oppositedirection when clutch socket 52 is engaged by clutch cone face 59, onlyone pair of clutch sockets and clutch cone faces being engaged while theother pair are simultaneously disengaged. In the middle neutral positionneither clutch is engaged. The ring gear 63 is fixed on a housing 66which floats on roller bearings 61 on the shaft 43. Also fixed on thehousing 66 is a sprocket 69 engaged by a roller chain I0.

The roller chain I serves to raise or lower the digging shaft H by meansthat will be hereinafter described. While only one pair of clutch conesand clutch sockets may be engaged at atime, it will be apparent that theclutch lever 65 may be shifted to a middle position, thus holding bothclutch cone faces and sockets simultaneously disengaged. In order tocontrollably rotate the digging shaft II, there is provided a hub I2having a key which slidably engages a longitudinal key slot I3 in thedigging shaft "II. This hub I2 is fixedly mounted on a ring gear I4 inmesh with the pinion gear I5 on the end of a stub shaft I6 extendingthrough a roller bearing 'I! mounted in the end of a gear and hubhousing portion I8 of housing 6|, this gear and hub housing I8 alsoproviding supporting means for roller bearings 39 and 8! through whichthe digger shaft 'II both rotates and slides. The stub shaft I6 isconnected by universal joint 82 to a squared shaft 83 which telescopesinto a squared sleeve 84 whose other end is connected by universal joint85 to a stub shaft SE1 journaled in a bearing 8! on the cross-framemember 3 I.

The stub shaft 86 is powered by a disc type clutch 88 connecting it tothe motor shaft 2| by means of the clutch yoke 90 extending through aneye support 9| mounted on the cross-frame member 3i The other end of theclutch yoke 90 is linked by a connecting rod 92 to a bellcrank 93pivoted at 94 on a frame section 95 and having its other end pivoted at96 to a hand lever 91 extending through fastening 98 mounted on thechassis frame member I2. Manipulation of the hand lever 9! through itsbellcrank, connecting link and clutch yoke will cause the disc typeclutch B2 to engage or disengage the power shaft 2! through the stubshaft 86 to thus rotate the stub shaft I6 and through pinion gear I5,ring gear I4 and hub I2 to rotate the digging shaft I I.

By proper manipulation of the motor controls and of the gear shift 20the digging shaft H can be caused to operate in first, second or thirdspeed to thus cause the auger I 00 to rotate at the desired speed, theauger I00 being suitably secured as by a pin IOI on the bottom of thedigging shaft H and is provided with a lead screw I02. The first speedgear will be used when the ground is very hard. second speed gear willbe used in average ground for most digging, while third speed gear maybe used when the ground is very soft. Should the auger get stuck in thehole and be unable to advance, then the reverse gear may be used tocause it to climb out of the hole, thus freeing the auger.

As above pointed out, the sprocket 68 and roller chain I0 are used forraising or lowering the digging shaft 'II. The digging shaft II issurrounded by a housing I03 whose lower end rests in a counterbore I04extending upwardly from the housing I8, which provides a collar forsecuring the housing I03 thereto, the counterbore I04 being split at I05and provided with fastening bolts I06. The housing I03 is open on oneside at I01 to permit the return end I 08 of roller chain I0 to extendtherethrough. The upper end of digger shaft II is machined to a coneshape at H0 similar to an automobile front wheel spindle to fit tobearings III and H2. The extreme upper end of the shaft II is threadedto receive a nut I I3 to secure a collar I I4 which fits around theroller bearings III and H2 and lets the shaft turn therein. A yoke I I5welded to the end of collar I I4 provides the means for securing the endof chain I0 thereto at I I6, while a U-link II'I provides the means forsecuring the end of chain section I08 thereto.

The chain section I0 passes over a sprocket I I8 supported on a shaftI20 having its ends journaled in bearings I2I adjustably secured by studbolts I22 through a U-plate I23 at the top of housing I03. The bolts I22thus serve for taking up any slack that may develop in the chain 10 I08.As will be apparent, rotation of the sprocket 68 in one direction willraise the digging shaft ll, while rotation in the other direction willforce it downwardly into the ground, but positioning the clutch lever 65in the middle or neutral position detaches the shaft II from eitherraising or lowering power and instead lets it dig into the ground underits own weight and the pulling power of the auger I00 and its lead screwI02. The housing 6| which extends from the gear housing I8 acts as apivoting center for the digging shaft and its associated parts in foreand aft direction.

A stanchion I24 welded to the top of housing 65 is bolted to the gearhousing 40, thus supporting the shaft 43 and its associated parts forrotation about the housing 6I as an axis. Extending from the collar 46is a pin I25 which is journaled in bearings I26 secured on the end ofchassis frame I2. One end of said pin I 25 is welded to collar 46. Onthe other end of housing SI there is rotatably mounted a collar I21which has a pair of extending bifurcated fingers I28 on opposite sidesof a threaded screw I 30 welded to the collar I21, a nut I3I on thethreaded screw I30 having wings I32 extending through apertures I28a andI262) in the bifurcated fingers I28. The collar I2! rides up and down ina vertical slot I33 in one side of a box member I34, the threaded screwI36 providing the fourth side of the box. The box I34 is secured bymeans of a connection I35 to the chassis frame member II. The threadedscrew I30 is provided with washers I31 welded thereto at each endthereof, thus journaling the screw in the arms of the box member I34 andpreventing it from traveling up or down. The top end of the screw I30 issquared as at I38 for cooperation with a hand crank I 40 removablyplaced thereon for rotating the screw 30 causing the nut I3I to travelup or down and thus pivoting the housing SI and all its related partsabout the pin I25 as an axis, thus permitting the digging shaft II to beadjusted to any desired transverse angle, as shown at H and 'II" in Fig.8.

In order to control the fore and aft angle, as shown at I03 and I03 inFig. l, the housing I03 and its digger shaft II is pivoted within thecollars 48 and I21. To control this, a boss I M is welded to the side ofthe housing I03, and is provided with a pivot I42 to which one end of adouble threaded shaft I43 is secured. The other end of the shaft I43extends through a wing nut I45 journaled on the end of a house sleeveI46 whose other end is pivoted (not shown) to the chassis frame. Thewing nut I45 is provided with wings I4I possibly six or eight inches inlength for easy manual manipulation. Rotation of the wing nut I45 allowsthe digging shaft H to pivot fore or aft as shown in Fig. l, as thehousing I03 may be moved to any desired position, such as I03 or I03".The housing I03 may be manipulated from between an almost horizontalposition to an absolutely upright position or extended beyond theposition shown at I03.

In operation proper manipulation of the wing nut I45 and of the threadscrew I30 by means of a hand crank I40, enables the digging shafthousing I03 and digging shaft II and auger I to be universally adjustedto any desired angle within reasonable limits, thus permitting a hole tobe dug at any desired angle as well as permitting a hole to be dug thatis absolutely vertical even though the vehicle wheels I3 and I4 areunevenly supported on an uneven ground surface.

To cause digging to take place the digger housing I 03 is manipulated tothe proper angle after the vehicle has been brought to the desired location. Then the motor I! is operated to provide power and the hand lever55 is caused to operate the clutch 52-53 so as to cause the chain I0 tolower the upper end of digger shaft II until the lead screw I02 isin'contact with the ground where the hole is to be dug, the lever 65then being kept in clutched position so as to force the auger I00 intothe ground. Then, with the proper transmission gear engaged by means ofgear shift lever 20, lever 01 is manipulated to operate the disc typeclutch 88 and transmit power from the power shaft 2I to the stub shaftI6 and thus through hub I2 to rotate the digger shaft Ii, auger I00 andlead screw I02 at the desired rate of speed according to the nature ofthe ground. When the auger has advanced into the ground a sufficientdistance, the hole may be cleared of dirt by manipulating the hand lever65 to the position for causing the chain I0 to raise the digging shaft II, thus withdrawing the auger and dirt supported thereon. If desired,the rotation of the auger may be stopped while it is being raised tojust about the top of the ground, whereupon it may be rotated in anyspeed and centrifugal force would clear it of dirt; then it may bedropped into the ground again and further digging may take place. Shouldthe auger get stuck in the ground, or should it have been allowed to digso far that it cannot raise the load of dirt above it, gear shift lever20 may be shifted into reverse gear allowing the auger to dig itselfpartly or completely out of the hole as may be desired. By using theconventional automatic vacuum spark control on the distributor of themotor H, the spark will advance and retard according to the load themotor is pulling. A vacuum governor may be used to control the gas feed.such as are conventional on the 1928 Buick motor. The telescopic powershafts 34--35 and 03-84. permit transmission of power between the powershafts and their respective elements irrespective of the angle at whichthe digging shaft may be set, particularly in view of the universaljoints at each end of both power shafts.

While the preferred form of this invention has been shown and described,it will be understood that this invention is not restricted to the particular details of construction and arrangement hereinbefore set forth,but that changes in such details and construction may be made within thescope of what is hereinafter claimed without departing from the spiritof this invention.

Having thus set forth and described the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

l. A portable hole digger including a vehicle having a conventionalpower motor and a conventional forward and reverse speed transmisionmounted thereon, a power shaft extending from such motor transmission, adigger shaft and anger, means for universally angling said digger shaftin both transverse and fore and aft directions; comprising a diggershaft housing and a transverse housing secured thereto and forming aninverted T therewith, said transverse housing including a central hubhousing section through which said digger shaft within said digger shafthousing slidably extends, transversely extending housing sectionsintegral therewith, each of said transversely extending housing sectionsextending outwardly from opposite sides of said hub housing section,means for rotatably mounting said transverse housing sections comprisinga collar rotatably mounted at each end of said housing sections, ajournal pin mounted on one collar and extending radially therefrom,bearing means on said vehicle in which said pin is journaled, meansmounted on said vehicle for raising and lowering the opposite end ofsaid transverse housing sections about said journal pin for transverselyangling said digger shaft housing and digger shaft, said latter meansbeing operatively connected to the other of said collars, said collarspermitting rotation of said di ger shaft housing and digger shaft in afore and aft direction, and means for pivoting said digger shaft housingand digger shaft fore and aft within said collars.

2. A portable hole digger including a vehicle having a conventionalpower motor and conventional forward and reverse speed transmissionmounted thereon, a power shaft extending from such motor transmission, adigger shaft and auger, and means for universally angling said diggershaft in both transverse and fore and aft directions comprising, adigger shaft housing and a transverse housing secured thereto andforming an inverted T therewith, said transverse housing including acentral hub housing section through which said digger shaft Within saiddigger shaft housing slidably extends and transversely extending housingsections integral therewith, each section extending outwardly fromopposite sides of said hub housing section, means for rotatably mountingsaid transverse housing comprising a collar rotatably mounted at eachend, a journal pin mounted on one collar and extending radiallytherefrom, bearing means on said vehicle in which said pin is journaled,means mounted on said vehicle for raising or lowering the opposite endof said transverse housing about said journal pin for transverse anglingof said digger housing-and digger shaft, said latter means.

being operatively connected to the other of said collars, said collarspermitting rotation of said digger housing and shaft in a fore and aftdirection, means for pivoting said digger shaft housing and digger shaftfore and aft within said collars, means for transmitting power to saiddigger shaft in any angular position to rotate said shaft, and means topositively raise or lower said shaft or to permit said shaft to descendunder its own weight.

3. A portable hole digger including a vehicle having a conventionalpower motor and conventional forward and reverse speed transmissionmounted thereon, a power shaft extending from such motor transmission, adigger shaft and anger, and means for universally angling said diggershaft in both transverse and fore and aft directions comprising, adigger shaft housing and a transverse housing secured thereto andforming an inverted T therewith, said transverse housing including acentral hub housing section through which said digger shaft within saiddigger shaft housing slidably extends and transversely extending housingsections integral therewith, each section extending outwardly fromopposite sides of said hub housing section, means for rotatably mountingsaid transverse housing comprising a collar rotatably mounted at eachend, a journal pin mounted on one collar and extending radiallytherefrom, bearing means on said vehicle in which said pin is journaled,a threaded jacl: screw mounted on said vehicle on the opposite side, nutmeans carried by the other transverse housing collar and threaded onsaid jack screw, said jack screw and nut serving to raise or lower saidtransverse angling of said digger housing and digger shaft, said collarspermitting rotation of said digger housing and shaft in a fore and aftdirection, and means for adjusting the fore and aft angle of said diggerhousing and digger shaft comprising a telescopic threaded shaft andsleeve, a manually operable nut journaled on said sleeve and threaded onsaid shaft, one end of said shaft and sleeve being pivotally mounted onsaid digger shaft housing and the other end on the vehicle.

4. A portable hole digger including a vehicle having a conventionalpower motor and conventional forward and reverse speed transmissionmounted thereon, a power shaft extending from such motor transmission, adigger shaft and auger, and means for universally angling said diggershaft in both transverse and fore and aft directions comprising, adigger shaft housing and a transverse housing secured thereto andforming an inverted T therewith, s id trans verse housing including acentral hub housing section through which said digger shaft withindigger shaft housing slidably extends and transversely extending housingsections integral therewith, each section extending outwardly fromopposite sides of said hub housing section, means for rotatably mountingsaid transverse housing comprising a collar rotatably mounted at eachend, a journal pin mounted on one collar and extending radiallytherefrom, bearing means on said vehicle in which said pin is journaled,a threaded jack screw mounted on said vehicle on the opposite side, nutmeans carried by the othertransverse housing collar and threaded on saidjack screw, said jack screw and nut serving to raise or lower saidtransverse housing about said journal pin for transverse angling of saiddigger housing and digger shaft, said collars permitting rotation ofsaid digger housing and shaft in a fore and aft direction, means foradjusting the fore and aft angle of said digger housing and digger shaftcomprising a telescopic threaded shaft and sleeve, and a manuallyoperable nut journaled on said sleeve and threaded on said shaft, oneend of said shaft and sleeve being pivotally mounted on said diggershaft housing the other end on the vehicle, and means for transmittingpower to said digger shaft in any angular position to rotate said shaft,and means to positively raise or lower said shaft or to permit saidshaft to descend under its own weight.

5. A portable hole digger including a vehicle having a conventionalpower motor and conventional forward and reverse speed transmissionmounted thereon, a power shaft extending from such motor transmission, adigger shaft and anger, and means for universally angling said diggershaft in both transverse and fore and aft directions comprising, adigger shaft housing and a transverse housing secured thereto andforming an inverted T therewith, said transverse housing including acentral hub housing section through which said digger shaft within saiddigger shaft housing slidably extends and transversely extending housingsections integral therewith, each section extending outwardly fromopposite sides of said hub housing section, means for rotatably mountingsaid transverse housing comprising a collar rotatably mounted at eachend, a journal pin mounted on one collar and extending radiallytherefrom, bearing means on said vehicle in which said pin is journaled,means for raising or lowering the opposite end of said transversehousing about said journal pin for transverse angling of said diggerhousing and digger shaft, the latter means comprising a threaded jackscrew mounted on said vehicle at said opposite end of said housing, nutmeans threaded on said jack screw and operatively connected to the othertransverse housing collar, said collars permitting rotation of saiddigger housing and shaft in a fore and aft direction, means for pivotingsaid digger shaft fore and aft within said collars, and means fortransmitting power to said digger shaft in any angular position torotate said shaft, and to positively raise or lower said shaft or topermit said shaft to descend under its own weight, said powertransmitting means including said power shaft from said power motortransmission, a clutch controlled telescopic power shaft universallyjointed thereto, a hub in said hub housing slidably keyed to saiddigging shaft, gear means universally connected to said clutchcontrolled telescopic power shaft for rotating said hub, a power takeofffrom said power shaft, a second telescopic power shaft universallyjointed to said power take-off, a transverse shaft, means to mount thelatter shaft for rotation parallel to said transverse housing, gearmeans universally connected to said second telescopic power shaft forrotating said transverse shaft, a sprocket journaled on said transverseshaft, a forward, neutral, and reverse clutch means connecting saidsprocket to said transverse shaft, a second sprocket adjustablymountedat the top of said digging shaft housing, a sprocket chain about 'bothsaid sprockets, and means connecting said chain to said digging shaft atthe top thereof for holding, raising or lowering said digging shaft butper mitting rotation thereof.

6. A portable hole digger including a vehicle having a conventionalpower motor and conventional forward and reverse speed transmissionmounted thereon, a power shaft extending from such motor transmission, adigger shaft and auger, and means for universally angling said diggershaft in both transverse and fore and aftdirections comprising, a diggershaft housing and a transverse housing secured thereto and forming aninverted T therewith, said transverse housing including a central hubhousing section through which said digger shaft within said digger shafthousing slidably extends and transversely extending housing sectionsintegral therewith, each section extending outwardly from opposite sidesof said hub housing section, means for mounting said transverse housingcomprising a collar rotatably mounted at each end, a journal pin mountedon one collar and extending radially therefrom, bearing means on saidvehicle in which said pin is journaled, a threaded jack screw mounted onsaid vehicle on the opposite side, nut means carried by the othertransverse housing collar and threaded on said jack screw, said jackscrew and nut serving to raise or lower said transverse housing aboutsaid journal pin for transverse angling of said digger housing anddigger shaft, said collars permitting rotation of said digger housingand shaft in a fore and aft direction, means for adjusting the fore andaft angle of said digger housing and digger shaft comprising atelescopic 30 angular position to rotate said shaft, and to positivelyraise or lower said shaft or to permit said shaft to descend under itsown weight, said power transmitting means including said power shaftfrom said power motor transmission, a clutch controlled telescopic powershaft universally jointed thereto, a hub in said hub housing slidablykeyed to said digging shaft, gear means universally connected to saidclutch controlled telescopic power shaft for rotating said hub, a powertake-off from said power shaft, a second telescopic power shaftuniversally jointed to said power take-off, a transverse shaft mountedfor rotation parallel to said transverse housing, gear means universallyjointed to said second telescopic power shaft for rotating saidtransverse shaft, a sprocket journaled on said transverse shaft, aforward, neutral, and reverse clutch means connecting said sprocket tosaid transverse shaft, a second sprocket adjustably mounted at the topof said digging shaft housing, a sprocket chain about both saidsprockets, and means connecting said chain to said digging shaft at thetop thereof for holding, raising or lowering said digging shaft butpermitting rotation thereof.

GERALD H. LOOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 934,102 Smith Sept. 14, 1909 1,486,247 Hunter Mar. 11, 19241,595,851 Brown Aug. 10, 1926 1,643,549 Doimelly et al Sept. 2'7, 19272,410,959 Brown Nov. 12, 1946

